Review reveals systemic safeguarding lapses during 1990s–2000s coaching era
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has issued a public apology following the release of a formal safeguarding case review into historic sexual abuse committed by former youth cricket coach Michael Strange. The review, conducted by the Cricket Regulator, examined incidents from the 1990s and early 2000s and exposed systemic failures that allowed Strange’s predatory behavior to persist.
Strange, 65, was convicted of 34 separate offences involving ten underage boys between 1993 and 2004. He was suspended by the ECB in 2005 when allegations first surfaced and was permanently disqualified from all cricket activity in April 2006. His first conviction came in 2012, and he remains in prison.
The 47-page review described Strange as a manipulative figure who exploited his influence as a county-level coach to gain trust and access to vulnerable young players. The report noted that Strange was “definitively, a sexual predator,” calling him “a compelling, charismatic and persuasive orator.”
ECB leadership offers public apology, vows to strengthen safeguarding
In an official statement published on ECB.co.uk, Chief Executive Richard Gould addressed the survivors directly and acknowledged the board’s responsibility:
“Everyone should be able to take part in cricket safely, and our first thoughts today are with the people who were harmed by Michael Strange. We are sorry this happened to you within our sport.
It is more than 20 years since Strange was suspended from cricket and while the review recognises that safeguarding understanding, policies and practices have developed significantly since then – within cricket and across society more widely – we will never be complacent.
This review highlights the importance of everyone being able to recognise concerning behaviour, and to act upon it.
We are constantly developing and strengthening our safeguarding work as well as the education we deliver across the game, and the review’s findings and recommendations will inform our continuing work.
By learning from this appalling case, we can keep people safer today.”
The statement also highlighted that safeguarding failures extended beyond outdated policies, reflecting deeper cultural issues that prevented timely intervention and accountability.
Cricket Regulator reinforces commitment to protection and reform
Chris Haward, Director of the Cricket Regulator, also issued a statement as part of the official ECB communication, acknowledging the lasting impact of Strange’s actions and the significance of the review process:
“Michael Strange was a prolific offender, and the impact of his crimes on those he harmed cannot be underestimated. I am grateful to all those who contributed to this important review and for the recommendations made in the report.”
He further emphasized that safeguarding lies at the core of the regulator’s mission:
“One of our key responsibilities for the Cricket Regulator is to protect participants from harm, and our safeguarding work lies at the very heart of our strategy. The findings and recommendations from this review will continue to shape our ongoing work to keep people safe.”
A case that echoes wider failures across UK sport
The Michael Strange case draws chilling parallels to other high-profile safeguarding scandals in British sport — most notably, the case of Barry Bennell, the former football coach and scout who was convicted of abusing dozens of boys over several decades. Both cases underscore the lasting damage that unchecked authority figures can inflict when organizations fail to act.
The ECB stated that it has since implemented wide-ranging safeguarding measures, including anonymous reporting channels, mandatory training modules, and regular audits at the grassroots level. The board has committed to applying the review’s findings to continue building a safer environment at every level of the game.
As English cricket reckons with its past, the message from the ECB is clear: past mistakes must serve as a foundation for lasting cultural and structural change.
